Wine drinkers beware.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:31 am

I'm full of sunshine today!!

The Australian government has given the nod to winemakers to begin using a chemical contained in laxatives.

While the chemical, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, has long been prized by the medical world for its anti-bulking and laxative properties, food scientists have discovered that, in small doses, it can be used to stabilize and thicken beverages and foods.

In the case of wine, the chemical prevents crystallization and cloudiness in white and sparkling varieties.

"I don't think the levels that are approved for use in wine in the EU and Australia will give that laxative effect," said Wendell Lee, general counsel for the Wine Institute, the trade group for California's wine industry.

The Winemakers' Federation of Australia appealed to its government to approve the chemical, arguing that the additive would save energy and money. That’s because traditional methods for preventing crystallization – cooling and filtration – can be highly energy intensive.

The chemical has not been approved for use in wine produced in the United States. However, an international agreement among several nations – including Australia; the European Union, where it is approved; and the U.S. – means that it is legal in imported wines.

But because there are no labeling requirements for food additives in wine, U.S. drinkers will remain in the dark as to its presence.

“There’s nothing you can do,” said Roger Boulton, professor of viticulture and enology at UC Davis. “There’s no way of knowing. If it’s imported and it’s an approved additive elsewhere, the consumer won’t know.”

According to both the EU and Australian government, the chemical does not alter the taste or consistency of wine, and it poses no harm to human health.

The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which oversees labeling and food additives in wine, has approved more than 50 wine additives, including soy flour, which helps with fermentation; potassium metabisulfite, which is used to sterilize and preserve wine; and copper sulfate, to remove hydrogen sulfide.

http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/ ... tive-13906

desertrat · Post by **desertrat** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:38 am

Wow. Bummer for wine lovers. I have never drank any liquor in my life, only because I hated the taste of it, with a passion. Guess it's time for wine lovers to stock up, ASAP. I feel sorry for us MC'ers. Everything always changes, and not for the better when it comes to ingredients!
Mandy

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:22 pm

Mandy,
It's not a terrible thing, so don't worry. So far it's only the wine makers in Oz who are doing this, and only for white wine. There is a lot more out there. If Australian white wine sales drop as a result of this you can bet your bottom $ they will stop!

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:18 pm

Oh man, Australia is embarking on genetically modified wheat too!!

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/op ... 82465.aspx

Post by **tex** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:39 pm

Zizzle wrote:Oh man, Australia is embarking on genetically modified wheat too!!

Well, they might be, but that conjecture certainly wasn't verified by that article. That's a typical Greenpeace article. There were only a few sentences about the title of the article, and most of those sentences were nothing more than speculation, or irrelevant information. The other 2 pages of the article were about diversionary topics.

I'm not a fan of GM foods, either, but I am a fan of science and logic, and I hate the use of misrepresentations and half-truths, so common in articles written by do-gooders promoting an agenda, (and I'm certainly not referring to you, Zizzle, I'm referring to the Greenpeace "expert" who wrote that article - I appreciate your posting it). Regarding this sentence, for example:

GM has never been proven safe for human consumption.

While that's certainly true - so what? No other food has ever been proven safe for human consumption, either, has it? Some have been proven unsafe, but none have been proven absolutely safe, and they never will be, because it's simply not possible to prove that anything will be safe, for anyone, in any situation, at any point in the future. We just assume that most foods are safe, because we've eaten them in the past, and survived, but that certainly doesn't mean that those foods have not been fatal for various individuals, over the years. Somewhere, at some time, there is someone who will die, after eating any food that you can possibly think of. It's happened before, and it will continue to happen. Therefore, proof of global safety is impossible.

Regarding the use of a laxative in wine - that's probably a good idea. If someone overdoes it, they won't even notice a hangover, because they will be so distracted by the diarrhea.

It's always about money, isn't it. To hell with the consumer, so long as there's more profit to be made, and if being "greener" can be used as part of the argument, so much the better, because many people claim to be willing to put up with all sorts of inconveniences, in the name of "greenness", (though their actual purchases usually prove otherwise).

Government regulatory agencies will approve just about anything promoted as "greener", of course, no matter how ridiculous it might actually be.

Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:52 pm

Mandy wrote:I have never drank any liquor in my life, only because I hated the taste of it, with a passion.

I am the same way, Mandy. You're the first person I've encountered who agrees with me. People have told me that "you have to get used to it" or "it's an acquired taste." In my mind, if my body finds it repulsive, it's trying to tell me that it's not good for me. I felt the same way about coffee and cigarettes. Once I joined a religion that doesn't think any of them are good for me, I could finally stop defending my decision not to partake of it.

I don't have a problem with others who partake; it's just not for me.

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:38 pm

Wait a minute! You had to drink it to taste it, didn't you?

Believe it or not, I'm the same way, I tried all that stuff when I was in college, and I just couldn't see any point in drinking something that I would have to force myself to acquire a taste for - like Gloria, that seemed counterintuitive to me, so I never tried it again. I never could see the benefits of drinking beer, either. It simply didn't appeal to me.

I'll have to confess that I've recently begun drinking coffee, though, mainly because it seems like a better alternative than drinking soft drinks, (which I've done for most of my life), in order to get my daily dose of caffeine. Yes, I know that tea is an option, and I do drink tea, but it can't match coffee for caffeine content.

Tex

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:05 pm

Gosh, I'm riddled with vices

Fortunately, I haven't smoked for a very long time - I can't imagine why I started, and I did so when I was old enough to know better.

I can't do 'hard' liquor. It's never made sense to me - a friend who long ago tended bar at a very posh hotel once made me a martini, and everyone said I had to try it, because his are the best. I took a sip, and just couldn't swallow.

But I do drink wine (there's a big leap between fermentation - happens almost by itself - and distillation - takes effort and equipment and is kind of scary!). I have even made wine (not the grape kinds - other fruits). And I love black coffee. Tex, hope you're enjoying it - do you sweeten it? Are you using milk/cream, during your dairy experiment?

I remember my first sip of beer. I was 5 years old, and our family was moving, and my dad was standing on the porch on a hot afternoon, directing the moving men bringing in something, and a new neighbor gave him a beer. I clamored for a sip, and he let me have one, assuming I would hate it. I didn't.... I remember it tasting like cold, liquid *bread* on a hot day. (Oh, if only I had not already become addicted to bread at that tender age.)

Post by **tex** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:38 pm

Sara wrote:Tex, hope you're enjoying it - do you sweeten it? Are you using milk/cream, during your dairy experiment?

I drink fairly strong coffee, so while I'm still using training wheels, I use a little sugar in it. I didn't want to start using a dairy product in it, in case dairy is just a transient phenomenon in my life.

I did eat some ice cream today, though, to make sure that if I have any casein antibodies, they will be properly riled up, before taking a sample.

Sara wrote:Oh, if only I had not already become addicted to bread at that tender age.

Not only that, but apparently you were already experiencing a glimpse of molecular mimicry, since your addiction convinced your taste buds that the beer had an appealing taste, just like "you know what".

Love,
Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:00 pm

There are drinks I liked immediately, and others, like beer, that I never liked and still don't. Certain wines I love, but don't love me (reds that have a lot of tanin) so I don't touch them, but sometimes a crisp, dry white is delicious.

My kids like alcoholic drinks, and happily, enjoy them in moderation. My mother was an alcoholic, and we all saw what that was like.

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:25 pm

Wine is one of my (2) vices the other being cigars. Only white since red does not work with my system.

Zizzile - are you trying to ruin my day?!

Love, Maggie

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:39 pm

Oh, right, cigars. That's a rare indulgence for me, and usually when we're in some tropical place. My husband has recently returned from just such a place... do you suppose he's holding out on me?

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:46 pm

Well I guess I am glad I make my own wine. I dent drink as much as I use too. But every now and then I do enjoy it. I do have another vice that I am totally embarrassed to say that I have it. When I drink I like to smoke (UGH)! I don't know why but when I drink hard liquor I will have a cigarette or two. I guess thats one of the reasons I very rarely drink.

Robin.booboo · Post by **Robin.booboo** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:32 pm

Hi Ya'll!

A topic close to my heart... I have just finished my very first entirely gluten free week, and I am happily sampling a selection of gluten free (sorghum) specialty beers, as we speak. I had tried "New Grist" brand before and it is good, but I found a couple others to try. Right now I am having a "Bards" and it is good, and different - it has molasses overtones. I am a micro-brew connoiseur, so I am thrilled to find out that gluten free beers exist, and even taste good! I have spent years learning about micro-brews, so I was definately not thrilled at the idea of losing that. I don't like too many wines, but I enjoy a Syrah every now and then.

-Robin